Washing machine



July 25, 1961 A. A. FORSBERG 2,993,355

WASHING MACHINE Filed. July 5, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

35 WWF /Q-w z W- I A; iTZWF/VE) July 25, 1961 A. A. FORSBERG WASHINGMACHINE Filea July 5, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 V ENTQR. MM% BY arm/mg)United States Patent 2,993,355 WASHING MACHINE Axel Albert Forsberg,Stora Essingen, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Electrolux, Stockholm,Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed July 5, 1957, Ser. No. 670,155Claims priority, application Sweden July 6, 1956 9 (Ilaims. (Cl. 68-131)My invention relates to washing machines.

An object of my invention is to provide a washing machine having animproved arrangement for operatively connecting and disconnecting anelectric motor to and from an impeller for agitating clothes during awashing operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved washing machinehaving an electric motor which can be shifted to a number of positionsto perform a variety of functions incident to the washing of clothes.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved washingmachine having a reversible electric motor for driving an impeller oragitator in opposite directions, and to provide mechanism of simplifiedconstruction for automatically reversing the direction of rotation ofthe impeller.

The invention, together with the above and other objects and advantagesthereof, will be more fully understood upon reference to the followingdescription and FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a washing machineembodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away and in section, of thewashing machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view more or less diagrammatically illustrating the washingmachine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the driving mechanism positioned in thebottom part of the washing machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary View of parts shown in FIG. 4 to illustratedetails more clearly;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of parts shown in FIG. 4 to illustrateadditional details more clearly;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view, partly broken away and in section, of thedriving mechanism and controls therefor shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating a diiferent positionof parts shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken at line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of parts similar to those shown in FIG. 6illustrating a modification of the invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 I have shown my invention in connection with a washingmachine comprising an outer housing 10 having a base 11 provided withsupporting legs 12, an upright shell 14 mounted on the base and aremovable cover 15. Within the outer housing 10 is positioned anopen-top container 16 into which access may be had by removing the cover15. The container 16 serves as a receptacle for washing clothes and intowhich washing liquid may be introduced in any suitable manner, as by aflexible hose, for example.

The bottom part of the container 16 may be provided with anindependently controlled heating coil 17 to heat the washing liquid to adesired elevated temperature. A suitable dial type thermometer 18, whichis mounted on a front control panel 19 of the housing 10 and connectedto the container 16 in any suitable manner (not shown), may be employedto indicate the temperature of the washing liquid in the container.

A rotatable impeller 20 is fixed to a shaft 21 journaled Patented July25, 1961 in a side wall of the container or receptacle 16 for agitatingthe clothes during a washing operation. The shaft 21, which is providedwith suitable packing (not shown) to form a liquid tight seal, extendsexteriorly of the container 16. The shaft 21 is adapted to be driven byan electric motor 22 having a shaft 23 at opposite ends of which arefixed relatively small wheels 24 and 25, respectively, as best shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. As seen in FIG. 4, the relatively small wheel '24frictionally engages a larger wheel 26 which is fixed to a shaft 27 andupon which is mounted a pulley 28. An endless belt 29 is disposed aboutthe pulley 28 and a pulley 30 fixed to the shaft 21 upon which therotatable impeller 20 is fixed.

As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 3, a conduit 31 is connected to thebottom of the container 16 and the inlet of a pump 32, the outlet ofwhich is connected by a flexible conduit 33 for pumping washing liquidto a higher lever from the bottom of the container 16.

In accordance with my invention, the electric motor 22 is movablebetween the positions illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that the motor canbe eliectively employed to drive the impeller 20 in the container 16 oroperate the pump 32. In FIG. 4 the wheels 24 and 26 are in frictionalengagement, whereby the motor 22 is effective to drive the impeller 20in the manner explained above. When the motor 22 is shifted from theposition shown in FIG. 4 to that illustrated in FIG. 5, the relativelysmall wheel 25 frictionally engages a larger wheel 34 fixed to the shaftof the umpsz; whereby the motor is rendered elfective to drive the pumpand conduct washing liquid to a higher level from the bottom of thecontainer 16.

As best shown in FIG. 7, a horizontally disposed frame 35 is resilientlysupported at 36 on the base 11. The pump 32 is secured at 37 to theframe 35, as seen in FIG. 4. The casing of motor 22 is provided withvertical pins at the top and bottom parts thereof, the bottom pin (notshown) being journaled in any suitable manner in the frame 35 and thetop pin 38 being journaled at 39 to the upper end of an overhanging arm40, the lower end of which is fixed at 41 to the frame 35-.

Suitable mechanism is provided for shifting the motor 22 between the twopositions illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. This mechanismcomprises a manually movable control knob 42 which is accessible in arecessed portion 43 of the upright shell 14, as shown in FIG. 7. Theknob 42 is fixed to a rod 44 which is vertically movable in bushings 45provided at the top and bottom parts of the recessed portion 43 of theshell 14.

The lower end of rod 44 is provided with a pin 46 which receives thelower forked end of a lever 47 pivotally connected at 48 to an uprightpart 49 of the shell 14. A crank 50, which is also pivoted at 48 to thepart 49 and is angularly movable with the lever 47, is pivotallyconnected to the upper end of a vertically extending rod 51, the lowerend of which is pivotally connected to a crank 52 which is fixed to theend of a stub shaft 53 rotatably mounted in a hollow sleeve or bushing54 fixed in an angle member 55 which forms a part of the supportingframe 35, as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 9.

To the stub shaft 53 is fixed an octagonal-shaped plate 56 which is heldbetween the spaced apart arms 57 of a U-shaped bracket 58, the closedend of which is fixed at 59 to an end of the housing of motor 22 belowthe friction wheel 24, as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. The bracket 58 isresilient in character so that the spaced arms 57 thereof can be movedapart to allow the octagonal-shaped plate 56 to be shifted in acounterclockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 7 to thatshown in FIG. 8, and to be shifted 90 in a clockwise direction from theposition shown in FIG. 8 to that shown in FIG. 7. The beveled corners ofthe octagonalshaped plate 56 permit the latter to turn readily in thebracket 58, the side arms 57 of which are initially forced apart whenmovement is initially imparted to the plate by the operating mechanismshown in FIG. 7 and just described. After the plate 56 has been turned90 from one position to the other, the side arms 57 of bracket 58 returnto their normal position with the plate 56 clamped therebetween.

In order to hold the motor 22 firmly in each of the positions shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, a spring-pressed pin 60, which is provided on the anglemember 55, is adapted to bear against the bottom side of the plate 56,as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. When the plate 56 is being turned fromone position to the other, the pin 60 momentarily moves downwardly afterwhich it is biased against the bottom side of the plate. In this manner,the small wheels 24 and 25 at the end of the motor shaft 23 will alwaysbe held in good frictional contact with the larger wheels 26 and 34, asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In view of the foregoing, it will now be understood that the controlknob 42 may be raised or lowered to render the motor 22 effective todrive the impeller 20 or to operate the pump 32. When the control knob42 is in its upper position, the difierent parts are in the positionillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7 and the small wheel 24 frictionally engagesthe larger wheel 26 to drive the impeller 20. When the control knob 42is in its lower position, the crank 52 is shifted from the positionshown in FIG. 7 to that shown in FIG. 8 and the axis of the motor 22shifts from the dotted line to the solid line position in FIG. 5,thereby bringing the wheels 25 and 34 into frictional engagement todrive the pump 32.

As' shown in FIG. 2, the 'upright shell 14 may be formed with a verticalslot 61 at the recessed portion 43 with the control knob 42 accessibleexteriorly of the shell. When the control knob 42 is in an intermediateposition, one of the beveled bottom corners of the plate 56 in FIG. 8becomes the bottom side of the plate against which the spring-pressedpin 60 is adapted to bear. Under these conditions, both of the wheels 24and 25 are out of frictional contact with the larger wheels 26 and 34and no movement is transmitted from the motor shaft 23 either to theimpeller 20 or to the pump 32.

In accordance with my invention, suitable mechanism is also provided forautomatically reversing the direction of rotation of the impeller 20.This mechanism comprises a worm 62 on the shaft 27 upon which thefriction wheel 26 and pulley 28 are mounted. The shaft 27, which isjournaled in any suitable manner (not shown) in an upright part 63 ofthe supporting frame 35, extends alongside the motor 22 from the pulley28 toward the pump 32. As best shown in FIG. 6, the worm 62 transmitsmovement to a worm gear 64 fixed to a shaft 65 journaled in any suitablemanner (not shown) to another part 66 mounted on the frame 35.

The worm gear 64 is provided with a pin 67 which projects outwardly fromone face thereof and is in the path of movement of an arm 68 rotatablymounted on the shaft 65. The arm 68 is adapted to cooperate with anoperating lever 69 of a microswitch 70 which is connected in the circuitof motor 22, as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 3. The motor 22 isprovided with a pair of field windings 71 and 72 and connected byconductors 73 and 74 to a source of electrical supply, the switch 70being connected in the conductor 74 and a rheostat 75 being connected inthe conductor 73.

When the switch 70 is in the solid line position shown in FIG. 3, thefield winding 71 is connected in the motor circuit and the shaft 23 ofmotor 22 is driven in one direction. When the switch 70 is in the dottedline position shown in FIG. 3, the field winding 72 is connected in themotor circuit and the shaft 23 of motor 22 is driven in the oppositedirection. Let us assume that when the switch 70 is in the solid lineposition shown in FIG. 3 and the wheels 24 and 26 are in frictionalengagement, the actuating lever 69 of switch 70 is in the positionillustrated in FIG. 6 and the worm gear 64 is being rotated in acounter-clockwise direction. When the pin 67 engages the arm 68, thelatter is also moved in a counter-clockwise direction.

Under these conditions, the arm 68 is angularly moved a sufiicientdistance to depress the lever 69 to cause switch 70 to move from thesolid line position to the dotted line position in FIG. 3. When thisoccurs, the direction of rotation of the motor shaft 23 is reversed, andthe worm gear 64 now will rotate in a clockwise direction in FIG. 6.Such clockwise rotation of worm gear 64 continues until the pin 67engages the arm 68, whereupon the latter will be moved clockwise asuflicient distance to allow actuating lever 69, which is biasedupwardly, to again move from its depressed position to the positionillustrated in FIG. 6. When this occurs, the switch 70 is again in thesolid line position shown in FIG. 3 and the direction of the motor shaftwill be reversed once again.

In view of the foregoing, it will now be understood that the impeller 20intermittently rotates in opposite 7 directions, the mechanism forautomatically effecting such 1 reversal of rotation of the impellerbecoming eifective each time after the impeller has been rotated in onedirection for several revolutions. After the pin 67 has moved the arm 68in a clockwise direction to reverse the direction of rotation of themotor shaft, the pin 67 will then begin to move in a counter-clockwisedirection until it again contacts the arm 68, as shown in FIG. 6, andbecomes elfective to impart angular movement thereto in the mannerexplained above. It will be understood that the mechanism forintermittently reversing the direction of rotation of the motor shaft 23is actuated only when the rotatable members 24 and 26 coact and are infunctioning relation in the position of the motor 22 illustrated in FIG.4 and motion is being transmitted from the f motor shaft 23 to thewashing element 20.

Instead of employing a single pin 67 in the worm gear 64, an additionalpin 67a may also be employed, as seen in FIG. 10. In FIG. 10 theadditional pin 67a may be movable in an arcuate-shaped slot 67b andprovided with suitable securing means (not shown) to locate the pin 67ain any desired position with respect to the fixed i pin 67. By employingtwo pins 67 and 67a which alternately engage the arm 68, the interval oftime that. the motor shaft 23 rotates in each direction may be readily Iadjusted.

The control panel 19 may be provided with a remote control knob 76 forregulating the rheostat 75 and ad- I justing the speed of the motor 22.The shaft of the control knob 76 may be provided with a pulley (notshown) similar to the pulley 77 on the rheostat, about both of which anendless cord 78 may be disposed, for t regulating the rheostat 75.

If desired, an additional switch (not shown) may be provided in themotor circuit which may be controlled by an adjustable timer in anywell-known manner. In this way, the interval of time that the impeller20 will belf effective during a washing period can be predetermined. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a timer 79 of this type may; be provided on thecontrol panel 19 for regulating thei interval of time that the motor 22will be connected t the source of electrical supply.

Although I have shown and described a particular embodiment of myinvention, I do not desire to be limited 1 to the particular arrangementset forth, and I intend in the 1 following claims to cover allmodifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of myinvention.

What I claim is:

1. In a washing machine of the class described, the combination of awashing element, a reversible electric motor, means for pivotallymounting said motor for angular movement about an axis, mechanism formanually moving said motor about said axis to a number of differentpositions, transmission means comprising a pair of rotatable members infrictional engagement in a first position of said motor for transmittingmotion therefrom to said element, one of said rotatable members beingcarried by said motor and out of frictional engagement with said otherrotatable member in a second position of said motor, said mechanism formoving said motor about said axis comprising first and second relativelymovable parts, said first part being rotatably mounted for movement withrespect to said second part which is mounted on and movable with saidmotor, said second part being resilient in character and formed andarranged so that movement is imparted thereto responsive to rotation ofsaid first part, means for intermittently reversing the direction ofrotation of said motor, and means operable only when said pair ofrotatable members are in frictional engagement in the first position ofsaid motor and motion is being transmitted from the latter to saidwashing element for actuating said last-mentioned motor reversing means.

2. A washing machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said second partis of U-shape and provided with spaced apart sides wihch are resilientin character and movable from and toward one another, said first partcomprising a multi-sided plate disposed between said arms and heldtherein in the first and second positions of said motor.

3. In a washing machine of the class described, the combination of awashing element, a support, a reversible electric motor having a shaft,means for pivotally mounting said motor on said support for angularmovement about an axis, an element fixed to said shaft and rotatable 11therewith, a rotatable member having a shaft, means for mounting saidrotatable member on said support, means ioperatively connecting theshaft of the rotatable member and said washing element, means forangularly moving Esaid motor about its axis to a plurality of ditferentpositions, means for transmitting motion from said motor shaft to saidwashing element in one position of said motor on said support in whichsaid rotatable element and said rotatable member coact and are infunctioning grelationship, means for intermittently reversing thedirection of rotation of said motor shaft, and means operable only whensaid rotatable element and said rotatable member coact and are infunctioning relationship in the one position of said motor and motion isbeing transmitted from said motor shaft to said washing element foractuating said last-mentioned motor reversing means.

4. In a washing machine of the class described, the combination of acontainer provided with a washing element, a support, means including adevice for performing an operation incident to the washing of clothes inthe container, said device having a shaft, means for mounting saiddevice on said support, a reversible electric motor having a shaft,means for pivotally mounting said motor on said support for angularmovement about an axis, a first rotatable member associated with theshaft of said device and movable therewith, a second rotatable memberhaving a shaft, means for mounting said second rotatable member on saidsupport, means operatively connecting the shaft of the second rotatablemember and said washing element, first and second rotatable elements atopposite ends of said motor shaft, means for angularly moving said motorabout its axis to a number of different positions, means fortransmitting motion from said motor shaft to said washing element in oneposition of said motor in which said second rotatable element and secondrotatable member coact and are in functioning relationship, said motorbeing operable to drive said device in another position of said motor inwhich said first rotatable element and said first rotatable member coactand are in functioning relationship, means for intermittently reversingthe direction of rotation of said motor shaft, and means operable onlywhen said second rotatable element and second rotatable member coact andare in functioning relationship in the one position of said motor andmotion is being transmitted 6 from said motor shaft to said washingelement for acidating said last-mentioned motor reversing means.

5. In a washing machine of the class described, the combination of acontainer provided with a washing element, a support, a pump forwithdrawing liquid from said container, said pump having a shaft, meansfor mounting said pump on said support, a reversible electric motorhaving a shaft, means for pivotally mounting said motor on said supportfor angular movement about an axis, a first rotatable member associatedwith the shaft of said pump and movable therewith, a second rotatablemember having a shaft, means for mounting said second rotatable memberon said support, means operatively connecting the shaft of the secondrotatable member and said washing element, first and second rotatableelements at opposite ends of said motor shaft, means for angularlymoving said motor about its axis to a number of different positions,means for transmitting motion from said motor shaft to said washingelement in one position of said motor in which said second rotatableelement and second rotatable member coact and are in functioningrelationship, said motor being operable to drive said pump in anotherposition of said motor in which said first rotatable element and saidfirst rotatable member coact and are in functioning relationship, meansfor intermittently reversing the direction of rotation of said motorshaft, and means operable only when said second rotatable element andsecond rotatable member coact and are in functioning relationship in theone position of said motor and motion is being transmitted from saidmotor shaft to said washing element for actuating said last-mentionedmotor reversing means.

6. In a washing machine of the class described, the combination of awashing element, a reversible electric motor, means for pivotallymounting said motor for angular movement about an axis, mechanism formanually moving said motor about said axis to a number of differentpositions, transmission means comprising a pair of rotatable memberswhich coact and are in functioning relationship in a first position ofsaid motor for transmitting motion therefrom to said element, one ofsaid rotatable members being carried by said motor and out offunctioning relationship with said other rotatable member in a secondposition of said motor, said mechanism for moving said motor about saidaxis comprising first and second interlocked parts which are relativelymovable with respect to one another and the second of which isassociated with said motor and movable therewith, said parts being soconstructed and arranged that said motor is locked and held fast in saidfirst and said second position responsive only to movement of said firstpart to one or another position when manual movement of said mechanismis effected, means for intermittently reversing the direction ofrotation of said motor, and means operable only when said pair ofrotatable members coact and are in functioning relationship in the firstposition of said motor and motion is being transmitted from the latterto said washing element for actuating said last-mentioned motorreversing means.

7. In a washing machine of the class described, the combination of awashing element, a support, a reversible electric motor having a shaft,means for pivotally mounting said motor on said support for angularmovement about an axis, an element fixed to said shaft and rotatabletherewith, a rotatable member having a shaft, means for mounting saidrotatable member on said support, means for angularly moving said motorabout its axis to a number of different positions, means fortransmitting motion from said motor shaft to said washing element in oneposition of said motor in which said rotatable element and saidrotatable member coact and are in functioning relationship, means forreversing the direction of rotation of said motor shaft including aswitch mounted on said support, a part mounted for movement on saidsupport, means for driving said part from the shaft of said rotatablemember, and means responsive to movement of said 7 part for actuatingsaid switch to reverse the direction of rotation of said motor shaft.

8. In a washing machine of the class described, the combination of awashing element, a support, a reversible electric motor having a shaft,means for pivotally mounting said motor on said support for angularmovement about an axis, an element fixed to said shaft and rotatabletherewith, a rotatable member having a shaft, means for mounting saidrotatable member on said support, means for angularly moving said motorabout its axis to a number of different positions, means fortransmitting motion from said motor shaft to said washing element in oneposition of said motor in which said rotatable element and saidrotatable member coact and are in functioning relationship, means forreversing the direction of rotation of said motor shaft including aswitch mounted on said support, a part mounted for movement on saidsupport, means for driving said part from the shaft of said rotatablemember, said part being movable in one or the other direction dependingupon the direction of rotation of said motor shaft, and means responsiveto movement of said part in each direction for actuating said switch toreverse the direction of rotation of said shaft.

9. In apparatus of the class described having an ele ment rotatableabout an axis, the combination of a reversible electric motor having ashaft, transmission mechanism for transmitting motion from said motorshaft to the element, means including a switch for re versing thedirection of rotation of said motor shaft, a rotatable part driven bysaid motor shaft, said part being movable in one or the other directionabout its different positions on said part.

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